WebProNews

Tag: Film

  • Netflix Snags Indies to Boost Its Big Film Push

    Netflix Snags Indies to Boost Its Big Film Push

    After very successful TV series and documentary ventures, Netflix is getting serious about original feature films. That $60 million buy of Brad Pitt’s new military satire should tell you that.

    But it’s not just the giant acquisitions that show Netflix’s determination to be a leader in original feature films. Netflix is apparently ramping up efforts to snag the rights to a bunch of indie films, and are working closely with producers and filmmakers to make this happen.

    Netflix has bought the rights to Rebirth, described as a twisted psychological thriller. An ordinary Joe finds himself way out of his depth when a weekend self-help retreat takes a series of increasingly bizarre turns.

    Another is Most Hated Woman In America, a film about outspoken atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair. Elizabeth Banks is producing and Melissa Leo is starring. Netflix also purchased a yet untitled indie comedy starring Sarah Hyland and Chris D’Elia. Set amidst the biggest EDM festival in America, XOXO, the film follows six strangers whose lives collide in one frenetic, dream-chasing, hopelessly romantic night.

    According to Deadline, Netflix is making a huge indie push and these are just a sampling of what Netflix is trying to acquire to fill out its original film slate.

    We also now know two of the four films coming to Netflix from the Duplass Brothers. The first is called 6 Years, and follows a young couple bound by a seemingly ideal love, which begins to unravel as unexpected opportunities spin them down a volatile and violent path and threaten the future they had always imagined. It hits Netflix on September 8th. The next is Manson Family Vacation and will land on October 27th.

    Earlier this week, Netflix announced the premiere dates of four of its first original films.

  • Netflix’s First Original Films Get Release Dates

    Netflix’s First Original Films Get Release Dates

    Up until now, Netflix has created original TV series and documentaries. On October 16th, something pretty significant is happening – Netflix is becoming an official destination for original feature films.

    The company has just announced the premiere dates of its first four original films.

    First up is True Detective alum Cary Fukunaga’s Beasts of No Nation. Based on the bestselling novel by Uzodinma Iweala. the movie is about a boy who is forced to join a group of soldiers in West Africa. It stars Idris Elba and will hit Netflix on October 16th.

    Then, on December 11th, the Adam Sandler vehicle The Ridiculous Six lands. A supposed parody of The Magnificent Seven, it is the first of four original films Adam Sandler will make for Netflix. The two parties struck a deal back in October of 2014. Sandler found himself in some hot water recently with Native American actors, who walked off the set in protest of some less-than-sensitive cultural jokes and stereotypes present in the script.

    The film boasts an impressive cast – Blake Shelton, Whitney Cummings, Steve Buscemi, Rob Schneider, Dan Aykroyd, Will Forte, Nick Swardson, Terry Crews, Jon Lovitz, Taylor Lautner, Nick Nolte, Luke Wilson, Steve Zahn, Danny Trejo, Chris Parnell, Lavell Crawford, and Vanilla Ice.

    Netflix’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend, will premiere in the first quarter of 2016. The Green Legend was actually the first feature film Netflix ever announced, and was supposed to premiere on August 28, 2015 – but was pushed back.

    Finally, Pee Wee Herman is making his big return in March of 2016. Pee-wee’s Big Holiday involves a “fateful meeting with a mysterious stranger that inspires Pee-wee Herman to take his first-ever holiday in this epic story of friendship and destiny.” Judd Apatow is producing.

  • Steve Jobs Trailer: Here’s Your First Real Look at the Long-Awaited Movie

    In May, Universal dropped a teaser for its upcoming film Steve Jobs, the Aaron sorkin-penned biopic of the late Apple co-founder.

    Today, we get the first official trailer:

    Here’s the official line, from Universal:

    Set backstage at three iconic product launches and ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac, Steve Jobs takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution to paint an intimate portrait of the brilliant man at its epicenter.

     

    Steve Jobs is directed by Academy Award® winner Danny Boyle and written by Academy Award® winner Aaron Sorkin, working from Walter Isaacson’s best-selling biography of the Apple founder. The producers are Mark Gordon, Guymon Casady of Film 360, Scott Rudin and Academy Award winner Christian Colson.

     

    Michael Fassbender plays Steve Jobs, the pioneering founder of Apple, with Academy Award®-winning actress Kate Winslet starring as Joanna Hoffman, former marketing chief of Macintosh. Steve Wozniak, who co-founded Apple, is played by Seth Rogen, and Jeff Daniels stars as former Apple CEO John Sculley. The film also stars Katherine Waterston as Chrisann Brennan, Jobs’ ex-girlfriend, and Michael Stuhlbarg as Andy Hertzfeld, one of the original members of the Apple Macintosh
    development team.

    Those iconic product launches are the Macintosh, NeXT, and the iMac.

    The film will hit theaters on October 9th.

  • ‘Snowden’ Trailer Shows “One Nation, Under Surveillance”

    The first official teaser for Oliver Stone’s Edward Snowden movie just hit the web.

    The film, simply titled Snowden, stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the former NSA contractor and whistleblower.

    The film is based on two different books, to which Stone acquired the rights – The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Wanted Man, by journalist Luke Harding and Time of the Octopus, by Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena.

    The film also stars, Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson, Rhys Ifans, Timothy Olyphant, and Nicolas Cage.

    It’s set to hit theaters on Christmas day, 2015.

    Image via Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Facebook

  • Here’s What’s About To Hit Netflix (Including 11 Seasons Of NCIS If You’re Into That)

    Here’s What’s About To Hit Netflix (Including 11 Seasons Of NCIS If You’re Into That)

    As you know, content comes and goes on Netflix. Each week, we’re bringing you a list of titles that you’ll be able to stream in the U.S. in the coming days. As always, dates are subject to change.

    Apparently NCIS is ridiculously popular, so there’s some good news for fans of that show. It’s not the most impressive list we’ve seen from Netflix, but there’s probably a little bit of something for just about everyone here.

    Available on 06/27:

    The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012)

    Riz Ahmed, Kate Hudson, Live Schreiber

    A Pakistani professor tells a journalist his post-9/11 U.S. experiences; however, it emerges that the professor has more on his mind than the past.

    Available on 6/30:

    NCIS: Seasons 1-11

    Solving major crimes within the Department of the Navy is the duty of a team of quirky experts led by

    Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon). Based in Washington, D.C., the crew investigates complex cases of terrorism, murder, espionage and more.

    La Reina del Sur

    This compelling show tells the story of the legendary Teresa Mendoza, a courageous woman who is perceived as conquering the world of drug trafficking.

    Available on 07/01:

    Alive (1993)

    Ethan Hawke, Vincent Spano, Josh Hamilton

    After their plane crashes in the Andes Mountains, the surviving members of a Uruguayan rugby team struggle to stay alive on a barren glacier.

    An Honest Liar (2014)

    James Randi

    As retired magician and escape artist James Randi sets out to expose frauds, he negotiates a personal life that’s also fraught with deception.

    Bad Hair Day (2015)

    Laura Marano, Leigh-Allyn Baker, Christian Campbell

    Nerdy Monica’s dreams of prom glory wither when she wakes with unruly hair and then gets entangled with a cop, a jewel thief and a priceless necklace.

    Bionicle: The Legend Reborn (2009)

    Michael Dorn, Jim Cummings, Maria Sokoloff

    The animated saga continues, following the adventures of the universe’s former ruler — who’s been stripped of power and exiled to a desolate planet.

    Bulworth (1998)

    Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle

    A disillusioned senator arranges his own assassination but reconsiders when his newfound policy of total honesty with voters ignites his will to live.

    Dave Attell: Road Work (2014)

    A veteran NYC comic performs in venues from New Orleans to Philadelphia, as unique special cuts from shows provide a unique look at his tour.

    Death in Paradise: Season 3

    A warm, light-hearted detective series which takes place against a stunning Caribbean island backdrop.

    Grandma’s Boy (2006)

    Allen Covert, Linda Cardellini, Shirley Jones

    When Alex, a 35-year-old video game tester, is kicked out of his apartment, he’s forced to move in with his grandmother.

    Hostage (2005)

    Bruce Willis, Kevin Pollak, Jimmy Bennett

    A former hostage negotiator finds his newly quiet existence shattered when a family linked to the mob is taken hostage by wayward thieves.

    Invizimals: The Alliance Files

    Based on the popular video games franchise, Invizimals tells the story of Hiro, Lima, and Sam, three young members of the Alliance of Invizimals Hunters. Together, they must help these fantastic creatures and try to stop the evil X-Tractor threat.

    Octonauts: Season 3

    A team of brave underwater explorers known as the Octonauts combs the world’s oceans for aquatic creatures in desperate need of assistance.

    Piglet’s Big Movie (2003)

    Kath Soucie, Jim Cummings, Nikita Hopkins

    Timid little Piglet must overcome his lack of confidence and save his endangered friends of the Hundred Acre Wood by using his “Book of Memories.”

    El Señor de los Cielos: Seasons 1-2

    Only Aurelio Casillas can fill Pablo Escobar’s shoes and become Mexico’s biggest drug trafficker of the ’90s.

    Saw V (2008)

    Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston

    When Hoffman learns that his secret connection to eradicate everything that links him to the killer.

    Set Fire to the Stars (2014)

    A professor invites brilliant, booze-soaked Welsh poet Dylan Thomas to New York but soon becomes disillusioned by his hero’s outrageous behavior.

    Shooting Fish (1997)

    Dan Futterman, Stuart Townsend, Kate Beckinsale

    American Dylan and Brit Jez, childhood friends from opposite sides of the pond, reconnect in London as young adults to con England’s wealthy into financing a home for deserving orphans: themselves!

    Underworld: Evolution (2006)

    Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Tony Curran

    Vampire warrior Selene and werewolf hybrid Michael learn the history of the ongoing war between the patrician Death Dealers and the barbarous Lycans.

    Velvet: Season 2

    In 1950s Spain, the heir to a fashion house romances a beautiful seamstress who works for the company, despite the objections of his family.

    Available on 07/03:

    Knights of Sidonia: Season 2 – NETFLIX ORIGINAL

    A hero rises to save a world that’s also a spaceship under siege by an alien threat in this original anime series based on the popular manga comic.

    See more recently added titles here. Here’s what’s coming in July.

    Image: NCIS via CBS

  • Boulevard: Robin Williams’ Last Movie Gets an Official Trailer

    Robin Williams provided a voice for the comedy Absolutely Anything, which is yet to be released. But in terms of on-screen roles, the late actor’s last movie is Boulevard, in which he plays a man coming the terms with his homosexuality.

    Today, the film’s official trailer hit the web.

    Here’s the film’s official synopsis:

    Nolan Mack (Robin Williams) has worked at the same bank for almost 26 years in a life of monotony. He and his wife Joy (Kathy Baker) have embraced their marriage as a convenient distraction from facing reality. However one day, what starts as an aimless drive down an unfamiliar street turns into a life-altering decision for Nolan. When he meets a troubled young man named Leo (Roberto Aguire) on his drive home, Nolan finds himself breaking from the confines of his old life and coming to terms with who he really is.

    The film, and especially Williams’ understated performance, received solid reviews after its premiere at Tribeca in 2014. The Hollywood Reporter called it a “tender but unsentimental take on a story that benefits from finesse.” Variety said that Williams “taps into the same loneliness felt in One Hour Photo and Good Will Hunting.”

    Check out the trailer below:

    The film is set to be released on July 10.

  • Jenna Jameson in New Film With Jerry Maguire Kid

    Jenna Jameson may not know what a human head weighs, but Jonathan Lipnicki does. You may remember Lipnicki as the adorable kid in Jerry Maguire who reminded folks that “a human head weighs eight pounds” at multiple points in the movie.

    You may remember Jenna Jameson from … well, you know. Jenna Jameson has had a couple of on-her-feet roles. She was in Howard Stern’s movie Private Parts, basically doing what she did best back then. She was also in one episode of Sons of Anarchy. Jameson played a character credited as “PornGirl Doctor.”

    But perhaps Jenna Jameson’s fortunes are rising. She is set to star in an honest-to-goodness drama called Limelight, written, produced by, and starring Paul Vandervort, an Abercrombie model-turned-actor.

    But Jonathan Lipnicki is in the film! The Hollywood Reporter describes the film as:

    “a gritty indie drama about fame, obsession and vapidness in Hollywood. The film follows a small-town, social media obsessed narcissist and his journey to Hollywood in pursuit of fame. Jameson plays a cold-blooded, high-powered publicist who manipulates the lead character Miles (Paul Vandervort) after he comes to Hollywood.”

    Lipnicki plays the character “Rocky, a member of Miles’ assigned entourage.”

    Jenna Jameson caught some attention recently when she became engaged to an Israeli diamond merchant and announced that she would convert to Judaism. Jenna Jameson is embracing the faith and traditions of her Israeli fiancé Lior Bitton. Jameson’s pictures of kosher meals she had prepared have gotten raves on social media, but her statements of support for Israel have embroiled her in arguments about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

    A photo posted by Jenna Jameson (@jennacantlose) on

    Jameson challenged one commenter, “Do some research then try to debate me…”

    To another, she remarked, “I’ve never allowed others narrow minds influence my beliefs.”

    Previously, Jenna Jameson had professed a Catholic background. “I’m very religious,” she told Larry King in 2013. “I think that we’ve come a long way religiously. I don’t think that you have to take the Bible literally … And I love being able to teach my children what it means to just believe and have the strength of faith … I’ve always been extremely Catholic. My father was Catholic, and he brought me up that way.”

  • Grand Theft Auto Maker Trying to Kill BBC Movie About the Game’s Tumultuous Inception

    Grand Theft Auto Maker Trying to Kill BBC Movie About the Game’s Tumultuous Inception

    When the BBC announced that it was developing a feature-length film based on the making of the popular gaming franchise Grand Theft Auto, most assumed that it was at least OK’ed by the game’s creators – if not blessed by. Apparently, that’s not the case.

    Rockstar Games’ parent company Take-Two Interactive has filed a lawsuit against the BBC, saying its goal is to “ensure that our trademarks are not misused in the BBC’s pursuit of an unofficial depiction of purported events.”

    Here’s Rockstar’s full statement (via IGN):

    Take-Two Interactive has filed suit against the BBC for trademark infringement based on their movie currently titled ‘Game Changer’ as it relates to Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto video game series.

    While holders of the trademarks referenced in the film title and its promotion, Rockstar Games has had no involvement with this project. Our goal is to ensure that our trademarks are not misused in the BBC’s pursuit of an unofficial depiction of purported events related to Rockstar Games. We have attempted multiple times to resolve this matter with the BBC without any meaningful resolution. It is our obligation to protect our intellectual property and unfortunately in this case litigation was necessary.

    The BBC first announced the project as part of its ‘Make It Digital’ initiative, which aims to “inspire a new generation to get creative with coding, programming and digital technology.”

    Here’s the film’s, which we now know to be titled Game Changer, official synopsis:

    Conceived for an adult audience, this special 90-minute drama tells the story of the controversy surrounding the computer game Grand Theft Auto – arguably the greatest British coding success story since Bletchley Park. Its triumph was down to a bunch of British gaming geniuses who had known each other since their school days, and at the heart of it all was GTA’s creative mastermind, Sam Houser. In autumn 2013 its latest iteration – GTA:V – earned $1bn in its first three days, becoming the fastest selling entertainment product in history.

    But the violent gameplay coupled with its outstanding commercial success leads to fierce opposition: from parents worried about children immersing themselves in such a violent world; from politicians, alarmed at the values they say it encourages; and above all from moral campaigners, who fight passionately to ban it. At the vanguard of this crusade is the formidable campaigning lawyer Jack Thompson, a man determined to do whatever he can to stop the relentless rise of Grand Theft Auto.

    Daniel Radcliffe is signed on to play Sam Houser, while the role of Jack Thompson has gone to Bill Paxton.

  • Here’s Michael Fassbender As Steve Jobs in the First Official Trailer for ‘Steve Jobs’

    Steve Jobs, the highly-anticipated biopic of the late Apple co-founder, finally started filming in January after it spent a while on a casting and directing carousel. Now, Universal Pictures has just dropped the first official teaser for the film.

    Here’s your first look at Michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs. What do you think?

    The rest of the cast is as follows: Seth Rogen as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Jeff Daniels is former Apple CEO John Sculley. Kate Winslet is playing former marketing chief of Macintosh Joanna Hoffman. Katherine Waterston (Inherent Vice, Being Flynn) will star as Chrisann Brennan, Jobs’ ex-girlfriend. Other cast members include Andy Hertzfeld, Perla Haney-Jardine, Ripley Sobo, Makenzie Moss, Sarah Snook, and Adam Shapiro.

    The film, penned by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Danny Boyle, is “set backstage at three iconic product launches and ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac,” says Universal. “The film takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution to paint an intimate portrait of the brilliant man at its epicenter.”

    Here’s a brief history of the film’s transformations:

    Universal picked up the project last November when Sony dropped it after a creative carousel likely left the studio a bit fatigued.

    The film was first announced in May of 2012, and soon after Sony hired Aaron Sorkin to pen the screenplay. He finished the script and submitted it in January of 2014.

    Since then, it’s been rife with issues. David Fincher was originally attached to direct the film (he and Sorkin had worked together on another film, The Social Network). It was reported that Fincher wanted Christian Bale for the lead role – and that it was pretty much a Bale or bust ultimatum.

    In April, Fincher left the project amid reports that he was making “aggressive demands for compensation and control.”

    The movie then traveled to director Danny Boyle and Leonardo DiCaprio became the next rumored Steve Jobs. The next few weeks were filled with more Christian Bale rumors. But when Universal picked up the film for a reported $30 million, Fassbender got the job to play the late Apple co-founder.

    The film will hit theaters in October. Let’s hope it’s worth the wait.

  • Tangerine, a Sundance Hit Shot with an iPhone 5s, Gets a Trailer

    The red-band trailer has dropped for one of Sundance’s most talked-about features.

    It’s called Tangerine, and it’s about two transgender women in Hollywood. It was also shot with an iPhone 5s.

    Of course, it wasn’t just an iPhone. The iPhone was the only device filming, but filmmakers needed a handful of extras. According to The Verge, those included an app called Filmic Pro, a set of anamorphic adapter lenses, and a steadicam.

    You’ve seen YouTube videos. You know why the steadicam was necessary.

    Without further ado, here’s the trailer:

    Here’s the film’s official description:

    It’s Christmas Eve in Tinseltown and Sin-Dee (newcomer Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) is back on the block. Upon hearing that her pimp boyfriend (James Ransone, STARLET, “Generation Kill”) hasn’t been faithful during the 28 days she was locked up, the working girl and her best friend, Alexandra (newcomer Mya Taylor), embark on a mission to get to the bottom of the scandalous rumor. Their rip-roaring odyssey leads them through various subcultures of Los Angeles, including an Armenian family dealing with their own repercussions of infidelity. Director Sean Baker’s prior films (STARLET, PRINCE OF BROADWAY) brought rich texture and intimate detail to worlds seldom seen on film. TANGERINE follows suit, bursting off the screen with energy and style. A decidedly modern Christmas tale told on the streets of L.A., TANGERINE defies expectation at every turn.

    The film generated a lot of buzz and has since received some pretty good reviews. Vulture calls it “the trans revenge movie you’ve been waiting for” and the New York Times called it a “perfectly cast, beautifully directed movie.”

    It’s due out on July 10.

    Image via Magnolia Pictures, YouTube

  • Amazon Is Going to Make Movies for Theatrical Release and Quick Debut on Prime

    Earlier this month, Amazon picked up its first-ever major award win, taking home a Golden Globe award for its original series Transparent. Is Amazon now shooting for Oscars?

    The company has announced plans to produce at least a dozen original films a year, starting this year. The movies will be created with theatrical release in mind, but will appear on Amazon Prime Instant Video four to eight weeks after their theatrical premiere.

    That’s a very quick window, considering it can take up to a year for films to make it from the big screen to the small screen.

    “We look forward to expanding our production efforts into feature films. Our goal is to create close to twelve movies a year with production starting later this year,” said Roy Price, Vice President, Amazon Studios. “Not only will we bring Prime Instant Video customers exciting, unique, and exclusive films soon after a movie’s theatrical run, but we hope this program will also benefit filmmakers, who too often struggle to mount fresh and daring stories that deserve an audience.”

    The guy Amazon has chosen to run the new initiative, Ted Hope, has experience in garnering acclaim for independent films. His production company, Good Machine, produced films like Eat Drink Man Woman, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and American Splendor.

    “Audiences already recognize that Amazon has raised the bar with productions in the episodic realm, tackling bold material in unique ways and collaborating with top talent, both established and emerging. To help carry the torch into the feature film world for such an innovative company is a tremendous opportunity and responsibility,” said Ted Hope, the new Head of Production for Amazon Original Movies. “Amazon Original Movies will be synonymous with films that amaze, excite, and move our fans, wherever customers watch. I am incredibly thrilled to be part of this.”

    Image via Amazon, YouTube

  • The Interview Has Made $31M Online, Still Won’t Break Even

    The Interview Has Made $31M Online, Still Won’t Break Even

    If the metric of success for Sony regarding The Interview is recouping its money (which at this point it’s probably not), then the film will likely fall short. But by any other metric, the Seth Rogen/James Franco film has been a pretty big hit.

    Sony has announced that the film, which was released online on Christmas Eve, has since raked in over $31 million in streaming revenues. It’s been rented or purchased more the 4.3 million times. That means that it’s doubled its opening weekend take – which was around $15 million.

    These numbers are even more impressive when you consider piracy, which surely cut into Sony’s earnings. In the first two days following official availability, The Interview was downloaded over 1.5 million times via torrent sites.

    With $31 million, The Interview is officially Sony’s biggest online release ever. It was the most-talked about nugget of pop culture for a couple weeks. By these metrics, it’s a success.

    Post by The Interview.

    Of course, a Christmas Day wide release (what was originally planned) would have likely been much better. To date, the movie has only grossed about $5 million in theaters – but that’s due to a severely limited release.

    At this point the Sony hack, which started the ball rolling and ultimately led to the film’s cancellation and subsequent revival, most certainly has prevented the film from breaking even. The Interview was made on a $44 million budget, and Sony is said to have spent at least $35 million on marketing efforts.

    Image via The Interview, Facebook

  • ‘The Interview’ Nabs $15M Online in First Weekend

    ‘The Interview’ Nabs $15M Online in First Weekend

    Sony’s decision to release the now-controversial film The Interview online seems to have paid off – at least financially.

    According to the company, the film has already generated over $15 million in sales, having been downloaded or rented over two million times in the past few days. By comparison, it’s made about $3 million in theaters (though it did have a rather limited release).

    A couple of days before its scheduled-then-canceled Christmas Day release, Sony announced that it would premiere the film in a handful of theaters nationwide, saying,

    “We have never given up on releasing The Interview and we’re excited our movie will be in a number of theaters on Christmas Day. At the same time, we are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theaters so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience.”

    The first wave of the theatrical release wound up hitting around 300 locations.

    But the theatrical release isn’t where Sony made its money over the weekend. On Christmas Eve, it decided to release the film online – on YouTube, Xbox Video, Google Play, and SeetheInterview.com (a Sony site).

    You can buy it for $15 or rent it for $6.

    “In addition to the strong turnout for its limited theatrical release over the holiday weekend, after only four days, The Interview already ranks as Sony Pictures #1 online film of all time,” said Sony in a release.

    The $15 million pull in its first few days of availability is pretty impressive, considering the total was likely hampered, at least in some part, by piracy. Torrent Freak reports that in just two days, The Interview was downloaded over 1.5 million times via torrent sites.

    Image via The Interview, Facebook

  • Here’s a Tribute to Some Great Directors Made Entirely with Stock Footage

    I’m not sure what this says, if anything, about modern directing and/or the quality of stock imagery – but I like it.

    Shutterstock, giant purveyor of stock photography, video footage, and music, has decided to use some of its assets to construct some pretty cool tributes to a handful of famous directors.

    Yes, the video you’re about to see was created with nothing but stock footage.

    The segments on Wes Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, and David Fincher are good enough. But what really shines is the use of stock video to recreate the look and feel of a Terrence Malick film. Just wait for it.

    Check it out:

    Directors’ Cuts: A Stock Footage Tribute to the Visual Styles of Modern Directors from Shutterstock on Vimeo.

  • AMC Theatres Now Offering Movie-a-Day Subscription Plan

    AMC Theatres Now Offering Movie-a-Day Subscription Plan

    In a move to get people out of their houses and watching movies at the theater as much as they’re watching them from their couches, AMC Theatres is partnering with MoviePass to bring a subscription model to the theatergoer.

    AMC will let customers pay a monthly fee to gain virtually unlimited access to screenings (it’s not quite unlimited, but at one movie per day it’s pretty close).

    The subscription will be offered in connection with MoviePass, the country’s largest movie theater subscription facilitator. Film fans can pay $35 per month to have access to one standard (2D) movie per day. And for $45 per month, they’ll have access to one movie a day in any format.

    “This is the first time a premium level subscription service has been launched in the U.S. and marks a significant step forward by offering passionate movie lovers the premium sight and sound experiences available in movie theatres,” said Stacy Spikes, CEO and Co-Founder of MoviePass. “We believe this premium tier subscription, combined with a new online ticketing feature, will appeal to our largest demographic, 18-34-year-old movie goers. Our goal is to keep people coming out to the movies again and again.”

    Theater visits have been on the decline with the advent of on-demand, Netflix, and other streaming options. By tapping into the current obsession with “subscription” services, AMC is looking to get more people through the doors.

    “AMC Theatres leads the way in the movie exhibition industry in offering innovations that ‘wow’ our customers,” said Christina Sternberg, senior vice president of Corporate Strategy and Communications. “This pilot will provide more convenience for our guests, and responds to the preference of many consumers for monthly entertainment subscriptions such as music and magazines, which we believe will increase the frequency of movie going.”

    This will run as a small test program at first in only two cities – Denver and Boston. But if it’s successful, you’d imagine that AMC will offer it in more markets as soon as they can.

    Image via AMC Theatres, Facebook

  • Terminator Genisys: Reboot Trailer Online

    Terminator Genisys: Reboot Trailer Online

    Paramount Pictures released the trailer for Terminator Genisys Thursday, and the clip has already garnered over eight million views on YouTube.

    The film is the first of a planned remake/prequel/sequel/reboot trilogy, and Genisys is set to be released on July 1, 2015. The two sequels have the scheduled release dates of May 19, 2017 and June 29, 2018, respectively.

    The synopsis of the film reads, “The year is 2029. John Connor, leader of the resistance continues the war against the machines. At the Los Angeles offensive, John’s fears of the unknown future begin to emerge when TECOM spies reveal a new plot by SkyNet that will attack him from both fronts; past and future, and will ultimately change warfare forever.”

    Arnold Schwarzenegger reprises his iconic role as the Terminator T-800 model, and the trailer features a new Sarah Conner (played by Emilia Clarke), a new Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) and a new, heavily scarred John Connor (Jason Clarke). A new, liquid metal T-1000 model is played by South Korean actor Byung-hun Lee.

    Here is the trailer:

    Fans of the Terminator series seem a bit skeptical over the latest reworking of the cash-cow franchise:

    All in all, the trailer does feature a scene in which Schwarzenegger dives into helicopter blades.

    Terminator Genysis was directed by Alan Taylor, and written by Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier. The film had a budget of roughly $170 million.

  • Anna Kendrick Sings ‘Into the Woods’ Song

    Anna Kendrick Sings ‘Into the Woods’ Song

    Actress and singer Anna Kendrick will appear in the upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical Into the Woods, and Disney released the audio of one of the songs she will perform.

    The track is called “On the Steps of the Palace,” and in the film, Kendrick’s Cinderella character sings it to her prince, played by Star Trek: Into Darkness star Chris Pine.

    Stephen Sondheim is the composer of the original musical, and Kendrick commented about what it was like working with him – “I had a really great and unique experience with Sondheim,” the 29-year-old remarked.

    “He was around giving me new lyrics, and I stood there and tried not to mess them up! That was obviously really exciting to realize that the material was still living and breathing and that I got to be a part of a song that was changing for the film adaptation.”

    Here is Kendrick’s rendition of “On the Steps of the Palace”:

    The film, a Walt Disney Pictures production, was adapted from a Tony Award-winning musical created by Sondheim and James Lapine. Into the Woods is an amalgam of various Grimm fairy tales, and concerns a childless couple who seek to break a hex they were cursed with by a sullen witch.

    The script adds a different take on various established fantasies including Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella. Kendrick, who plays a brunette Cinderella, commented, “it’s sort of all the fairy tales more or less as you know them, you know, intersecting and creating some degree of chaos in the woods.”

    The Twilight franchise actress, who garnered Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her work in 2009′s Up In The Air, added, “Cinderella is more or less the same story that we know for the first half of the movie. Then, of course, the second half is when all the characters have to come face to face with the consequences of their actions.”

    Here is the trailer for Into the Woods:

    Into the Woods was directed by Rob Marshall, and co-stars Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Emily Blunt and Johnny Depp. The film opens on Christmas day.

    In related news, out of Kendrick’s roughly two dozen tweets centered around the Thursday broadcast of Peter Pan Live!, the mostly profound would likely be a toss up between the following:

  • Alicia Vikander Dating Co-star Michael Fassbender

    Swedish actress Alicia Vikander is reportedly dating her The Light Between Oceans co-star Michael Fassbender.

    The two had filmed parts of The Light Between Oceans in Australia. Fassbender, 37, was photographed with the 26-year-old actress at Bondi Beach in Sydney. German-born Fassbender went surfing, and then joined Vikander on shore for a meal.

    The Light Between Oceans is based on the 2013 novel by M.L. Stedman, and is set for release in 2015.

    Here is the synopsis:

    After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne (Fassbender) returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel (Vikander). Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby. The couple keeps the baby, and name her Lucy.

    When they eventually go to the mainland, they discover that a woman (played by Rachel Weisz) has been searching for her lost husband and child.

    In October, Fassbender and Vikander were spotted in the Marlborough region of New Zealand at a local massage parlor, soon after the The Light Between Oceans cast and crew celebrated her October 3 birthday:

    Post by Mon Thai spa & Massage.

    Here is a small clip concerning The Light Between Oceans:

    Fassbender earned a 2014 Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as slave owner Edwin Epps in 12 Years a Slave.

    Vikander’s filmography includes Anna Karenina, A Royal Affair and The Fifth Estate.

    The actress has been linked to fellow Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgard, while Fassbender had dated Zoe Kravitz and Naomi Campbell in the past.

  • Natalie Portman Rumored for ‘Major Role’ in New Steve Jobs Film

    At this point, it feels like the long-promised Steve Jobs biopic based on Walter Isaacson’s bestselling biography may never actually happen. After months in limbo, enduring a revolving door of attached talent, Sony finally dropped the film earlier this month. Universal picked it up, however, so it looks like things are back on track.

    And today, there’s news that a big name might already be attached.

    Deadline is reporting that Natalie Portman is in talks to join the film – as a yet unspecified “major role”.

    If you’re wondering what’s been going on with the movie for the past year or so, here’s a brief explainer of the headaches surrounding the film:

    The film was first announced in May of 2012, and soon after Sony hired Aaron Sorkin to pen the screenplay. He finished the script and submitted it in January of this year.

    Since then, it’s been a talent carousel. David Fincher was first attached to the project (he and Sorkin had worked together on another film, The Social Network). It was reported that Fincher wanted Christian Bale for the lead role – and that it was pretty much a Bale or Bust ultimatum.

    In April, Fincher exited the project amid reports that he was making “aggressive demands for compensation and control.”

    On came director Danny Boyle and Leonardo DiCaprio became the next rumored Steve Jobs. Then he wasn’t. Then it was Christian Bale again. Then it was Christian Bale, confirmed.

    Then it wasn’t.

    After all that, Sony Pictures dropped the film and a few days later, Universal picked it up for somewhere around $30 million.

    Now, in the hands of Universal, we have Natalie Portman being tossed around. As to who’s going to play the title role, well, that’s still up in the air. Michael Fassbender is the current pick – though that’s yet to be confirmed. As far as the other Apple co-founder goes, Steve Wozniak might very well be given to Seth Rogen.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Steve Jobs Movie Finds New Life at Universal

    The Steve Jobs movie has life, as Universal Pictures has decided to pick up the recently-abandoned project.

    Last week, Sony Pictures abruptly ditched the high-profile film. It appeared that the company had become a bit frustrated with the project, which had been sitting in limbo watching an acting/directing carousel spin – despite having a completed script since January. Rumor had it that Universal was looking to buy it, and it appears that is the case, confirms The Hollywood Reporter.

    Here’s a brief explainer of the headaches surrounding the film:

    The film was first announced in May of 2012, and soon after Sony hired Aaron Sorkin to pen the screenplay. He finished the script and submitted it in January of this year.

    Since then, it’s been a talent carousel. David Fincher was first attached to the project (he and Sorkin had worked together on another film, The Social Network). It was reported that Fincher wanted Christian Bale for the lead role – and that it was pretty much a Bale or Bust ultimatum.

    In April, Fincher exited the project amid reports that he was making “aggressive demands for compensation and control.”

    On came director Danny Boyle and Leonardo DiCaprio became the next rumored Steve Jobs. Then he wasn’t. Then it was Christian Bale again. Then it was Christian Bale, confirmed.

    Then it wasn’t.

    At this point, Michael Fassbender is being eyed for the Jobs role. As far as the other Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Seth Rogen is apparently in talks.

    Danny Boyle is still attached to direct, and THR says that it’s looking good for Michael Fassbender to play the late Apple co-founder.

    The project reportedly sported a $30 million price tag.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Natalie Portman Remembers Mike Nichols

    Actress Natalie Portman paid tribute to late German-born American film and theater director Mike Nichols, saying that he “saved” her. Nichols passed away unexpectedly Wednesday night at 83.

    As a teen, Portman, 33, was directed on stage by Nichols in a production of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull in 2001. In 2004, eight years before she would win an Oscar for her work in Black Swan, Nichols also directed Portman in the movie Closer which featured Jude Law, Julia Roberts and Clive Owen.

    Portman told E! Online, “There’s nothing good enough I can write that would do Mike justice. He was the one who had the best words, the right hug for hard times, the funny comment to diffuse your pain. He saved me again and again. He was the best way to be a person and an artist. And the most, most fun. I send my deepest love to Diane, Jenny, Max, Daisy and their children, who filled his days with light.”

    One of Portman’s racier scenes featured in the Nichols-directed Closer:

    Nichols never tried to encourage Portman to do any nude scenes in Closer, even though they were called for in the script adaptation and original play. Portman remarked, “well, back to the trust issue: When you trust someone, you”re willing to do everything and make mistakes and really expose yourself inside-out. So we made sort of a pact that before- while we would shoot, we would just do everything. and then he cut it the way he cut, showed it to me to see if I agreed, and that’s what happened. We both kept our parts of the deal.”

    The Thor franchise actress added, “there’s nothing good enough I can write that would do Mike justice.”

    Portman will appear alongside fellow Stars Wars alum Ewan McGregor in Jane Got a Gun in 2015.